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Gentle refresh for Volvo XC90

When Volvo Car South Africa first showed the XC90 to the public during the Ocean Race stopover in Cape Town the true import and magnatude of the design styling megajump to modernity was rather lost considering the glitz, glamour and clamour of the boats and activities around it.

At the official launch in 2015, where the car became the central figure, the new thinking in Volvo design became very clear, bolstered by the fact news from abroad was already showing similar processign for the XC60 and the flagship sedan.

Now, the XC90 has been given a refresh that sees the T-shaped ‘Thor’s Hammer’ DRL lights and the iron mark continue with new wheels added and a six-seat configuration in the mix.

“The overall impression, both exterior and interior, has a strong connection to the key elements of the Swedish lifestyle: the generous space, the celebration of light and the focus on well-being,” says Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director of Volvo Car South Africa.

The most striking interior feature is a tablet-like touch screen control console, which forms the heart of the in-car control system. This system is virtually button free and is an innovative way for drivers to control their car and access a range of Internet-based products and services. It also helps create an interior that is modern and spacious.

“The interior is pure and uncluttered, while still radiating the sophisticated confidence and formality that luxury SUV customers expect. The simplicity is perfectly in tune with our Scandinavian design heritage. It opens up generous surfaces and gives us the opportunity to create a modern, luxurious interior architecture,” says Maruszewski.

As well as ample space for passengers, there is a flexible load compartment with up to 1 856 litres of space.

The 2020 XC90 can be ordered with a range of different seating configurations. From the seven-seat family SUV, to the brand new six-seat configuration, the XC90 has been created to best fits people’s preferences and lifestyles. New interior materials including a slate grey upholstery and new décor inlays offer further options for personalisation.

The top-of-the-line system in the XC90 features a 1 476-Watt Class D amplifier and 19 Bowers & Wilkins speakers. The subwoofer – a Fresh Air design – is integrated in the car, which means the volume of the passenger compartment is used as a resonance chamber. The subwoofer is located in the right rear wheel well and the air for the speaker element is taken from the wheel well. In practice the passengers are sitting inside a speaker enclosure. Using this design, a speaker does not need to take up so much space within the car.

The second-generation XC90 came with two world-first safety aids: Run-off Road Protection and automatic emergency braking at junctions. Should the car inadvertently leave the road, Run-off Road Protection automatically tightens the front seatbelts to keep occupants in the safest possible position.

To help prevent spinal injuries, a collapsible energy-absorbing section between the front seats and seat frame cushions the vertical forces that can occur if the car lands on a hard surface. The XC90 was also the first car in the world to feature automatic emergency braking that activates if the driver turns into the path of an oncoming vehicle at a junction.

The new XC90 offers a range of 2,0-litre, four-cylinder powertrains coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 2020 XC90 comes standard with Volvo On Call and, according to Maruszewski, Volvo on Call is a key to the digital world.

“One app gives Volvo drivers control over their car’s functions. It also provides access to a world of convenient services,” he says.

“It becomes your personal assistant. It can tell you about the best coffee spots in town and send the destination to your car’s navigation system. It knows when you have appointments, where they are and how to get you there.

“Motorists who forget to lock their car will get a notification message. And Volvo On Call automatically contacts the emergency services if you are involved in an accident and tells them where you are,” Maruszewski explains.

Volvo On Call is entirely free of charge for five years. Thereafter, it can be extended for a fee.